Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil for Dogs: What You Might Not KnowBy Kaye Davies
– co-owner of the Moab BARKery

Holistic vets are discovering some interesting results from the use of CBD oil with their canine clients. Just as CBD has helped humans, your dog can reap the same health boosting benefits. The variety of CBD products produced for dogs have been increasing and becoming more accessible to dog owners and now researchers are turning their attention to this herb, and so far they are finding there are a lot of positive outcomes from the use of CBD. CBD is often misunderstood and there may be some things that you might not know about its use for helping dogs with a variety of common health issues.

CBD is not psychoactive, it is a compound found in cannabis and hemp. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can also be found in cannabis and it is this compound that gives marijuana its psychoactive properties. Most CBD oils are just the beneficial CBD without the THC. They typically come from hemp and not marijuana. Your dog will not get high from CBD oil; they will get relaxation without the intoxication.

Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety or noise phobias? CBD oil reduces anxiety. Extensive studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of CBD on anxiety and stress in humans and it has been found to reduce anxiety in both people who have anxiety disorders and healthy people who experience situational anxiety, like public speaking. It has also been found to be effective for panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders.

CBD can fight cancers. CBD and other substances found in hemp and cannabis have been found to have anti-tumor effects. CBD has even been shown to stop the cancer cells from growing and increased tumor cell death by supporting the immune systems killer cells. CBD kills cancer cells by blocking their ability to produce energy and can help increase the efficacy of conventional cancer treatment.

CBD can treat seizures and epilepsy. It is estimated that up to 5% of dogs suffer from seizures. Most dogs with seizures are put on drugs such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide. While they may help control the seizures, they can also be extremely harmful to your dog’s liver and other vital organs, and the drugs do not work in every case. CBD has shown to work well in drug-resistant epilepsy, resulting in a reduction of the frequency of seizures.

CBD reduces and relieves pain. The cannabinoids in CBD work so well for pain that scientists are considering it as a new class of drug for the treatment of chronic pain. Studies have shown CBD to be very effective for decreasing pain, including neuropathy and nerve-related pain. It has also been shown to decrease the impact of inflammation and the impact of inflammation in acute pancreatitis, irritable bowel disease and oxidative stress which causes degeneration and premature aging.

CBD reduces chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease. CBD has been shown to decrease the production and release of inflammatory cytokines that can cause allergies, hypersensitivities and autoimmunity. It can also suppress something called Th17 dominance, which is a major cause of autoimmune diseases. It also inhibits the production of inflammatory macrophages and decreases chronic inflammation. CBD is also a powerful antioxidant that’s shown to be more powerful than vitamins C and E.
CBD can protect the nervous system and help with Neurodegenerative diseases. For dogs suffering from degenerative diseases, spine and other nerve issues, CBD shows a lot of promise. In humans it has been shown to help patients with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by protecting the brain cells from toxicity. For senior dogs CBD has been shown to protect the brain from cell death caused by free radicals and toxins.

CBD increases appetite and helps with nausea. If you have trouble getting your dog to eat, CBD may help, it increases appetite. CBD has also shown to help with vomiting and nausea in dogs, even when the vomiting and nausea is a result of the ingestion of drugs or toxins.

CBD promotes cardiovascular health. Studies show it can reduce the damage from damaged blood vessels and irregular heart rates, protect blood vessels from damage and dilate the arteries, and reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

CBD oil for dogs is legal and safe. With so many studies showing the health benefits of CBD, the most encouraging result is that CBD appears to be safe, even when taking high doses and over extended periods of time. It can decrease the activity of liver enzymes used to metabolize many prescription drugs, so if your dog is on medication, you might want to check with your vet before using CBD. Most CBD oil for dogs and other animals is derived from hemp oil, so it contains no or very little traces of THC. Because of this, all 50 states have approved the use of hemp-based CBD for human and animal products. The bottom line is, CBD oil could be a healthy or even life-saving herb for your dog. More and more pet owners and holistic vets are drawn to its diverse and marked health benefits and they feel good knowing the side effects are mild and animals appear not to build up a tolerance.
Choosing good CBD oil for your dog can be difficult as there are so many products available on the market. You will want high quality CBD oil that works, so here are a few things to look for:

• Make sure the product is organic, if it is not your CBD oil contains pesticides, fungicides or solvents.
• Don’t cheap out, the higher the quality and purity, the higher the cost. Make sure your CBD oil is free of additives and has a good amount of CBD.
• Get the analysis. Ask for a lab analysis of the amount of CBD in the product. Many CBD oils only contain small amounts of CBD. The manufacturer should provide a certificate of analysis. You will also want to make sure there is little or no THC in the product.
• Buy CBD as a tincture, you can buy CBD in treats but the best form is in a tincture. This way you can adjust your dog’s dose drop by drop to make sure they get the most benefit.

At the Moab BARKery we carry CBD products from Healthy Hemp Pet Company; it was the first naturally extracted hemp oil on the market, which is completely free of chlorophylls and carbonic acid. They source their hemp oil from the first certified USDA organic hemp greenhouse in the state of Colorado. They are a small batch production and their products contain 0.30< of THC. We carry their line of 400MG PCR (phyto-cannabinoid rich) tinctures in coconut and salmon oil, 200MG PCR sprays and 600MG PCR Immune tincture with Turkey Tail Mushroom.

Start your dog off slowly but don’t let the naysayers tell you CBD isn’t a good option for your dog … the research is being done and the results are very promising.